The Dragon Republic

Well, one good part about social distancing is I have time to read epic fantasy again. The Poppy War was one of the best books of 2018. I'm glad to see the Dragon Republic staying on track. It's still brutal (it's even more of a war story than the first novel) and Rin can be frustrating sometimes, but she grows in a way that is satisfying and even inspiring. Kuang is masterful in the art of creating no good choices. Every time you think things are bad, they will get work. Not the happiest read, and not for anyone with physical/sexual violence triggers, but you know, I'm not in a happy place right now, so this worked for me. If you liked the Poppy War, you should continue the series. If you were meh on the Poppy War, know that this book doubles down on the pain.